How to Resize JPEGs Using a Browser, Windows, Mac, or Mobile Device

If you’re uploading a JPEG or sending it to someone, you may need to resize it to fit certain specifications. If you’re not sure how, don’t worry—we’ve put together a total guide for resizing JPEGs. Whether you use Windows, Mac, a mobile device, or a web browser like Google Chrome, we’ll cover everything from tweaking image resolution to shrinking the file size, plus we have expert tips from professional photographer Boris Polissky on resizing JPEGs.

How do you change the size of a JPEG?

Use a browser to upload your JPEG to a resizing website. Most sites let you adjust resolution, crop your images, and adjust compression to minimize the file size.
In Windows, open your JPEG in Paint, click “Select All,” and adjust the height and width by percentage or pixel length. Select “Save As” and choose “JPEG.”
On Macs, open your JPEG in Preview, click “Tools,” then “Adjust Size.” Adjust the height and width by percent or pixel length, click “OK,” and click “Save.”

Section 1 of 5:

Using an Image Resizing Website

Download Article

1
Visit an image resizing website like PicResize.com . Many sites will let you quickly upload and resize any image file, including JPEG files. Some allow you to resize multiple images at once. Search "resize jpeg" to find a bunch of different options. Resizing using a website is easier to do on a desktop computer than on a mobile device. ^{[1]
X
Research source} Other popular options websites for resizing images include:
2
Upload the JPG file you want to resize. Most resizing sites allow you to upload virtually any type of image file. Click the "Choose File," "Upload image," or "Browse" button to find the image file on your computer that you want to resize. ^{[2]
X
Research source}
- If the image you want to resize is on another website, download it to your computer first. Then upload it to the resizing website.
Advertisement
3
Use the site’s resizing controls to change the size of the image. Each website has a different set of controls to adjust the image size, but they’re usually pretty simple to navigate. You’ll typically see buttons or sliders for adjusting height and width, cropping the image, and undoing your changes if needed. ^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Depending on the website, you may need to enter the exact dimensions you want the resized image to be or adjust the image size by a specific percentage.
- Making your image smaller will decrease the file size. The image quality will also decrease, but this won’t be obvious unless you zoom in.
- Making an image larger will increase the file size. It will also result in a noticeably lower-quality picture.
4
Select your compression (if available). Some resizing websites allow you to set a compression level. Higher compression will result in a smaller file size, but will also lead to a decrease in image quality. Look for a quality slider or drop-down menu to change the final quality. ^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Not all resizing websites allow you to adjust image quality.
5
Click “Resize” and download the resized image. Once you've set your size and quality settings, you can resize and download the image. Click the "Resize" button to load the new image. You'll likely be shown a preview of the changes before the image file is downloaded to your computer. ^{[5]
X
Research source}
- When you’re downloading a resized image, save it with a different name to avoid overwriting the original. This will allow you to go back to the original image and make changes again as needed.

Section 2 of 5:

Using Paint in Windows

Download Article

1
Make a copy of the image file. Before resizing your image in Paint , make a copy of the file so you don't lose the original. This will allow you to repeat the process later if you aren't happy with the results. ^{[6]
X
Research source}
- To make a copy of the image file, right-click on it and select "Copy." Right-click a blank area in the same folder and select "Paste" to create a copy of the image.
2
Open the image in Paint. Polissky recommends resizing JPEGs with Windows Paint—“it’s easy to use and comes with every version of Windows.” ^{[7]
X
Expert Source

Boris Polissky
Professional Photographer

Expert Interview. 20 January 2021.} Right-click on the image file and select "Edit" to open it in Paint. ^{[8]
X
Research source}
- You can also open Paint first, then click “File” and “Open” to search for the image you want to edit.
Polissky says, “After you open the file, choose “Resize.” ^{[9]
X
Expert Source

Boris Polissky
Professional Photographer

Expert Interview. 20 January 2021.} You can find this in the “Image” section of the Home tab, or you can press Ctrl + W . This will open the "Resize and Skew" window. ^{[10]
X
Research source}
4
Use the "Resize" fields to change the size of the image. Polissky recommends resizing the image by percentages, but you can also manually enter in the exact pixels you want the resized image to be. ^{[11]
X
Expert Source

Boris Polissky
Professional Photographer

Expert Interview. 20 January 2021.} If you’re using percentages, enter a number that’s larger than "100" to make the image bigger than the original. ^{[12]
X
Research source}
- By default, Paint will maintain the original aspect ratio, and entering a value in one field will automatically change the value in the other. This keeps the image from stretching or squishing during the resize. You can uncheck "Maintain aspect ratio" if you want to be able to define both the Horizontal and Vertical fields independently.
- Making an image larger than the original will result in a lower-quality final image.
5
Click "OK" to see your resized image. Once you click "OK," your image will be resized according to the values you entered. There is no preview available, so you'll need to apply the changes to see them. ^{[13]
X
Research source}
- If you aren't happy with the outcome, press Ctrl + Z to undo the resize changes you made. You can also click the "Undo" button at the very top of the window next.
6
Save your resized image. Once you're satisfied with the new size, you can save the changes to the file. Select "Save" from the File tab. ^{[14]
X
Research source}
- You can also click “Save As” to create a new file and choose where to save it. Make sure to select “JPEG” as the format when using “Save As.”

Section 3 of 5:

Using Preview on a Mac

Download Article

It's always a good idea to create a backup of your original image file before you resize it . This will allow you to revert to the original in case something goes wrong or you don't like the end result. Select the image file, press ⌘ Command + C , and then press ⌘ Command + V to make a copy in the same location. ^{[15]
X
Research source}
Usually, this will open by default when you double-click the file. If the image opens in something else, you can right-click the file and select "Open With" and then "Preview." ^{[16]
X
Research source}
3
Click the Markup button, then the Adjust Size button. The Markup button is on the right side of the Tools menu. This button will switch you into editing mode and bring up the Markup toolbar. From this toolbar, click the Adjust Size to resize the image. ^{[17]
X
Research source}
- If the toolbar is already open, you don’t need to press the Markup button again—just the Adjust Size button.
4
Click the drop-down menu to select the units you want to use. You can select "Pixels," "Percentage," and other units for scaling the image.
- For example, resizing your image to “50%” will decrease it to half its original size, while “200%” will double its size.
5
Enter the new width or height that you want the image to be. The two fields are linked, and changing one will change the other to keep the image proportions correct. This will prevent stretching or squishing of the image. If you want to freely resize both fields, uncheck "Scale proportionally" to unlink the two. ^{[18]
X
Research source}
- Use the drop-down options beside the Width and Height fields if you want to change how you enter the image size. Leave it on "Pixels" to dictate the exact size of the resized image, or select “Percentage” to resize it by a specific proportion.
- Making the image smaller will reduce the file size. It will also decrease the image quality, but this won’t be obvious unless you zoom in.
- Making the image bigger will increase the file size. The image quality will decrease noticeably, so don’t enlarge it too much unless you’re comfortable with a blocky or blurry image.
You'll be able to see what the new file size will be at the bottom of the window before you apply your changes. This is useful if you're resizing the image to fit the file size limitations of email or other online services. ^{[19]
X
Research source}
The image will be resized according to the settings you entered. If you aren't happy with the results, press ⌘ Command + Z to undo the changes and revert to the original size. ^{[20]
X
Research source}
If you are happy with the new size, you can save your changes to the file. Click the "File" menu and select "save" to save your changes. ^{[21]
X
Research source}

Section 4 of 5:

Using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch

Download Article

1
Install an app that allows you to resize images. There is no built-in way to resize a picture on iOS devices, but there are a variety of apps that can perform the task for you. You can download these apps from your iOS device's App Store. ^{[22]
X
Research source} Some of the more popular apps include:
You'll likely be prompted to give the app access to your photos. This is necessary for the app to be able to browse the photos stored on your device. Find the photo you want to resize and tap it to open it. ^{[23]
X
Research source}
Most apps have various tools you can choose from, including resizing. Tap the "Resize" button to begin resizing the image. ^{[24]
X
Research source}
4
Enter a new size for the image. Different apps will have different interfaces, but in most cases, you can select from a variety of preset sizes or you can enter a specific resolution. The width and height will automatically change together so that the original proportions are maintained. ^{[25]
X
Research source}
- If you don't mind if the image gets stretched or squished, you can tap the chainlink or padlock button to enter different values into each field.
After resizing the image, tap the "Save" or “Download” button to save it to your camera roll. You'll be able to find it in your Photos app like you would any other image on your iOS device. ^{[26]
X
Research source}

Section 5 of 5:

Using an Android Device

Download Article

1
Download an app that can resize pictures. Android devices do not come with an app for resizing images, but there are countless third-party apps available that can do so. You can download these apps from the Google Play Store . Some of the most popular image resizing apps include: ^{[27]
X
Research source}
When you launch the app for the first time, you may be prompted to give the app access to your stored photos. This is essential so that the app can load photos stored on your device. ^{[28]
X
Research source}
Use the app to navigate to the photo that you want to resize. The process will vary depending on the app, but generally, you can tap the "Select photo" button on the app's main menu to open your device's stored photos. ^{[29]
X
Research source}
After opening the image, you'll likely need to select the "Resize" tool in the app. Again, the process will vary for this depending on the app you are using. ^{[30]
X
Research source}
You'll be shown the original size in both pixels and file size. Depending on the app, you may be able to select from preset image sizes, or enter a specific size. When entering a custom size, you can just enter one value and the other value will scale accordingly. ^{[31]
X
Research source}
6
Save your resized image. Depending on the app, the resized image may be saved automatically, or you may need to manually tap the "Save" button. The original image will not be changed. ^{[32]
X
Research source}
- Each app will store its resized images in a different location. Generally, you'll be able to find the pictures by opening your Pictures folder and then opening the folder named after the app.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

How do I change the resolution in Paint?

Community Answer

In the bottom of the screen, you'll see a section saying (A number) x (A numper) PX. That is your resolution size. you can drag the squares of the corner of the canvas and the resolution number will increase/ decrease. Change to desired size.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 9 Helpful 9
Question

When I open and save in paint, without doing image size reduction, the file size reduces by 50 percent. Does this cause a loss in resolution?

Community Answer

When you open and save a JPEG using Paint, the file is trans-coded so that Paint can read it. For example, if your image has 16bit encode for color, then it might reduce resolution by 50 percent.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3
Question

How can I resize several JPEGs at once?

Community Answer

You should be able to use any of the suggested websites to work with multiple JPEGs at once, although you may be limited to a certain number at a time.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 6 Helpful 5

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

It’s best to only resize a JPEG to a smaller size to avoid making the image blurry. Your JPEG will lose quality if you resize it to a larger size.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

You Might Also Like

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

Expert Source

Boris Polissky
Professional Photographer

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

Log in

How to Resize JPEGs Using a Browser, Windows, Mac, or Mobile Device

How do you change the size of a JPEG?

Steps

Using an Image Resizing Website

Using Paint in Windows

Using Preview on a Mac

Using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch

Using an Android Device

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Reader Success Stories

Did this article help you?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Quizzes

Explore Categories